Now that is an attractive tribute guy. Even if they pay the tribute, it's still a 5/5 flyer for 4cmc. In RED. Totally playable.:thumbsup:
Is a four mana 3/3 flyer that returns to your hand upon death playable? Honestly I'm not sure, but leaning towards no. It's not terrible but why mythic.
Is a four mana 3/3 flyer that returns to your hand upon death playable? Honestly I'm not sure, but leaning towards no. It's not terrible but why mythic.
Chandra's Phoenix ring any bells?
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Level 1 Judge
"I hope to have such a death... lying in triumph atop the broken bodies of those who slew me..."
You don't call "dying to removal" if the removal is more expensive in resources than the creature. If you have to spend BG (Abrupt Decay), or W + basic land (PtE) to remove a 1G, that is not "dying to removal". Strictly speaking Goyf dies to removal, but actually your removal is dying to Goyf.
Aura spells costing 1 less makes holding mana for God's Willing or other 1-mana anti-Hero's Downfall variants feasible. You can untap with it, voltron with 1-2 Ordeals then protect it in response. Might be a thing if Devour Flesh loses popularity as conventional 1-for-1s aren't enough (run 8+ variants to match the average 8-10 removal spells in midrange).
Hero of Iroas is actually fantastic the more I think about it. This guy pushes Heroic harder than I thought possible. Picture T2 Hero of Iroas T3 Unflinching Courage + Ranger's Guile/God's Willing (in response, of course).
While you are right about paying tribute, I wouldn't say that a flying creature is easily chump-blocked.
Any flyer you put out can just eat its attacks until you get removal.
What I mean is, if it's going to be a mythic, can it not be garbage? Imagine opening that in a pack.
How the hell is a 5/5 vanilla flyer mythic?? I'd barely say a 3/3 haste flyer could qualify, and there is NEVER a good reason to pick the non-tribute option, ever.
Sorry to disappoint some of you, but this card is just terrible. You're better off waiting a turn and playing stormbreath, which is what a mythic red flyer should be like.
The phoenix is unplayable in constructed. Stormbreath dragon is just miles better. The Hero is pretty sweet. Def will be a 4 of in any bestow deck if it happens.
I like them both. The Hero will be fun in my w/g aura deck. And that phoenix. Nice. Hammer of Purphoros the turn before makes that phoenix mean. Ether I get a 3/3 that comes back or a 5/5 and both can hit you in the face the turn i play it (again, having played the hammer the turn before). I'm going to enjoy that.
I Like Hero of Iroas in a U/W Heroic Weenie shell (is my immediate thought), but a bear with an upside is ever so nice, and will also curve out the bestow creatures faster.
The Phoenix is undercosted for both modes... but there may be better four drops available in whichever decks it wants to be played in, time will tell. (though this followed up by a stormbreath would not be particularly amusing)
: )
Giving it Tribute 3 or haste built-in would make it feel more mythic. That said, THIS is a tribute creature; a 5/5 flyer for 4 in red is pretty pushed, and a 3/3 haste unkillable flyer for 4 is better than Chandra's Phoenix, which sees play.
EDIT: I'm building white weenie and I'm leery about mainboarding Imposing Sovereign with the Inspiration mechanic coming up. I'll see how it all shakes out but this guy might take my deck building in a different direction: four Ordeals, four Gods Willing, some Dauntless Onslaught and some Phalanx Leader.
In a world where people pack their decks with 4x Desecration Demon which has an actual drawback on its 6/6 flyer body for 2BB, proves the phoenix is definitely not bad.
The only other creature on the planet that has flying and at least 5/5 power toughness in red has a MUCH worse drawback then phoenix Rathi Dragon.
Yes, the Phoenix is not as good as Stormbreath Dragon. That doesn't change the fact that it is still good in Limited and is still reasonably costed. It just shouldn't be a mythic.
That thing would be a nightmare at rare: "either you get a 3/3 flyer with haste with recursion OR you get a 5/5 flyer for four in a block with very little removal? Kill me now"
Hero of Ioras is pretty sweet but I don't think he'll be seeing much play outside of limited, he makes Boon Satyr pretty cool!
tl,dr: both cards seem like limited all-stars but not much else
Is a four mana 3/3 flyer that returns to your hand upon death playable? Honestly I'm not sure, but leaning towards no. It's not terrible but why mythic.
That would be better than chandra's phoenix since it wouldnt require burn. So yes it would be a staple. Its the 5/5 for 4 half that makes this unplayable.
The Phoenix is sweet. Doesn't compete with Stormbreath dragon on the curve, and is a guranteed 5/5 flyer for 4 or 3/3 with haste that comes back to your hand for 4. I would happily take either of these any day. Will definitely see play.
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I didn't choose the RUG life the RUG life chose me.
Yes, it does. It's one mana less, which is a HUGE difference in burn/aggro, and it always does what you want. Best yet it'll never get blown out by Supreme Verdict. Chandra's and this are COMPLETELY different.
You don't call "dying to removal" if the removal is more expensive in resources than the creature. If you have to spend BG (Abrupt Decay), or W + basic land (PtE) to remove a 1G, that is not "dying to removal". Strictly speaking Goyf dies to removal, but actually your removal is dying to Goyf.
Aura card is cool but that mythic Phoenix is pretty bad, almost always just a 5/5 flyer for 4. Should have had haste either way then it would have been good.
That phoenix looks amazing until you think about it.
I do think it will see fringe Standard play, but it actually does die to Lightning Strike (elect not to pay tribute, Phoenix lands on the battlefield, stack ETB trigger, pop it in response) as well as dying to Hero's Downfall and Chained to the Rocks. And a 5/5 flier for 4 isn't far above the curve now. Still, a massive flavour hit if nothing else.
I'm surprised no one brought up that the hero reduces bestow costs which is huge. Or am I wrong on that? I think the Phoenix is pretty damn good considering it's a low costed red flyer, not sure how people can label it unplayable already but then again it's not surprising.
How many Aura enablers would we need before Alpha Authority would be good in a selesnya/bant voltron deck?
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I fear I won't have much time to play Magic these days.
I get to watch worlds develop around me.
I get to watch great leaders, terrible oppressors, and trend setters rise and fall.
Limited, Standard, Modern, everything is a different playing field I feel I can observe, but will not actually touch.
I look forward to the stories I will hear.
And more so to the ones I will watch unfold first hand.
Isn't the unknown exciting?
(Sarcasm)
No dude it has to be a 5/5 haste flyer for 4 mana with no drawback to be playable.
(/sarcasm)
I am very glad this card does not have haste in its 5/5 form it would be one of the most annoying cards in standard. If you thought thundermaw hellkite was a beast this card would blow the doors off that one if you gave it a permanent haste.
Crap, Falkenrath Aristocrat saw play as a 4/1 flyer with haste for 4 mana with a fairly decent ability stapled on it. I did get a kick out of people griping about that card when it was first spoiled also.
Is a four mana 3/3 flyer that returns to your hand upon death playable? Honestly I'm not sure, but leaning towards no. It's not terrible but why mythic.
Storm Crow is strictly worse than Seacoast Drake.
Chandra's Phoenix ring any bells?
"I hope to have such a death... lying in triumph atop the broken bodies of those who slew me..."
Hero of Iroas is actually fantastic the more I think about it. This guy pushes Heroic harder than I thought possible. Picture T2 Hero of Iroas T3 Unflinching Courage + Ranger's Guile/God's Willing (in response, of course).
Any flyer you put out can just eat its attacks until you get removal.
What I mean is, if it's going to be a mythic, can it not be garbage? Imagine opening that in a pack.
How the hell is a 5/5 vanilla flyer mythic?? I'd barely say a 3/3 haste flyer could qualify, and there is NEVER a good reason to pick the non-tribute option, ever.
Sorry to disappoint some of you, but this card is just terrible. You're better off waiting a turn and playing stormbreath, which is what a mythic red flyer should be like.
The Phoenix is undercosted for both modes... but there may be better four drops available in whichever decks it wants to be played in, time will tell. (though this followed up by a stormbreath would not be particularly amusing)
: )
EDIT: I'm building white weenie and I'm leery about mainboarding Imposing Sovereign with the Inspiration mechanic coming up. I'll see how it all shakes out but this guy might take my deck building in a different direction: four Ordeals, four Gods Willing, some Dauntless Onslaught and some Phalanx Leader.
Bident Layers
B Devotion
RG Devotion
UW Control
Modern:
Jund
UW Control
Combo Pod
Legacy:
DeathBlade
RUG Delver
BUG Control
The only other creature on the planet that has flying and at least 5/5 power toughness in red has a MUCH worse drawback then phoenix Rathi Dragon.
Feel free to bid on my cards here!
Storm Crow is strictly worse than Seacoast Drake.
That thing would be a nightmare at rare: "either you get a 3/3 flyer with haste with recursion OR you get a 5/5 flyer for four in a block with very little removal? Kill me now"
Hero of Ioras is pretty sweet but I don't think he'll be seeing much play outside of limited, he makes Boon Satyr pretty cool!
tl,dr: both cards seem like limited all-stars but not much else
That would be better than chandra's phoenix since it wouldnt require burn. So yes it would be a staple. Its the 5/5 for 4 half that makes this unplayable.
Yes, it does. It's one mana less, which is a HUGE difference in burn/aggro, and it always does what you want. Best yet it'll never get blown out by Supreme Verdict. Chandra's and this are COMPLETELY different.
"But Desecration Demon has a PUNISHER mechanic so it's bad and only noobs would play it!"
/sarcasm.
Remember, Tribute doesn't instantly kill your opponent and burn their deck, so according to MTGS, it's bad.
"I hope to have such a death... lying in triumph atop the broken bodies of those who slew me..."
—Karn, silver golem
I do think it will see fringe Standard play, but it actually does die to Lightning Strike (elect not to pay tribute, Phoenix lands on the battlefield, stack ETB trigger, pop it in response) as well as dying to Hero's Downfall and Chained to the Rocks. And a 5/5 flier for 4 isn't far above the curve now. Still, a massive flavour hit if nothing else.
I get to watch great leaders, terrible oppressors, and trend setters rise and fall.
Limited, Standard, Modern, everything is a different playing field I feel I can observe, but will not actually touch.
I look forward to the stories I will hear.
And more so to the ones I will watch unfold first hand.
Isn't the unknown exciting?
(Sarcasm)
No dude it has to be a 5/5 haste flyer for 4 mana with no drawback to be playable.
(/sarcasm)
I am very glad this card does not have haste in its 5/5 form it would be one of the most annoying cards in standard. If you thought thundermaw hellkite was a beast this card would blow the doors off that one if you gave it a permanent haste.
Crap, Falkenrath Aristocrat saw play as a 4/1 flyer with haste for 4 mana with a fairly decent ability stapled on it. I did get a kick out of people griping about that card when it was first spoiled also.
Feel free to bid on my cards here!